Road

We are British Cycling - we are bike commuters - Paul Cuthbert

Paul lives in Paisley commutes by bike to Erskine five days a week. Paul enjoys arriving at work feeling relaxed and refreshed, describing his bike commute as "the highlight of his day."

Name: Paul Cuthbert

Workplace: B&Q Contact Centre - Erskine, Scotland

Tell us about your commuting rig: I’ve got a Trek 1.1 Road Bike for year-round commuting and I just treated myself to a lovely Trek Madone 5.2 for the rare dry days we get in Scotland (or the days I’m running late and need to get there quickly!)

What’s your commute like? There are four different routes I take. The shortest route is a flat 10km road run from Paisley, around Glasgow Airport and along rural roads to Erskine. That’s usually my winter route. There are three other hillier routes I take which are longer (20, 25 and 40km). Over the summer I tend to do the 25km route each way every day and on warm days I’d do the 40km route, which is a detour through the hills towards Lochwinnoch – some lovely climbs and great descents!

How many days a week do you commute by bike? Five days a week. I never miss it.

What do you enjoy the most about bike commuting? Arriving at work feeling relaxed and refreshed, Endorphins pumping through my veins keeps me happy and set me up for the day, and pretending I’m a solo breakaway ahead of the peloton trying to win a stage of the Tour de France to make me ride faster - or pretending I’m in a pursuit race trying to catch Laura Trott on the track! Oh… And I always get a parking space at work! Plus it’s always fun to pass all the cars stuck in traffic.

What’s your least favourite thing about commuting by bike? Headwinds, arriving at work with wet feet, and the freezing Scottish weather in winter… and also the realisation as soon as I arrive to work that I wasn’t in a Tour de France breakaway and I would never catch Laura Trott! I can dream, can’t I?

What are your main reasons to commute by bike? It is a lot quicker than taking the bus! And I just really enjoy it. It’s the highlight of my day. Plus it’s really good for me and I feel a lot fitter when I do longer training rides when I’m not working.

Have you got any funny or interesting bike commuting stories or experiences to share? I once had to let one of the managers out at the roundabout 200m from my house. He couldn’t believe that I had made it to the roundabout the same time as him in his car. When my girlfriend and me were taking a trip to Loch Lomond, we went along my commute in her car. I timed it and on a bike I’m only four minutes slower than a car on National Speed Limit roads over 10km!

What’s your killer commuting tip? Ski gloves in winter are better than any winter Cycling gloves. Fact! I bought winter cycling gloves and suffered a whole winter before I read an article about Ice Biking which suggested using ski gloves. Next winter, I arrived at work every day with clammy hands instead of frostbite!

Are you a British Cycling Member? If so how does your British Cycling membership support your bike commuting? Yes I am. My membership supports my commuting as I’ve read some great safety and riding tips on the website, and they’ll also support me should anything happen to me out on the road. Plus, they’re working to raise the profile of cycling in the UK, making our roads safer for everyone.

Send us your Commuter Profiles!

We want to know about your commuting experiences; how far you go, why you choose to ride, your killer tips and your commuter grumbles. Download, complete and email back your commuter profile to editor@britishcycling.org.uk and tell your story. Feel free to include a photograph/photographs of you and your trusty commuting bike!